"If positive decisions are being made regarding Poland, it's natural to expect that similar decisions will also be made regarding Lithuania," Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas told public broadcaster LRT.
The comment followed word last week from Marcin Przydacz, head of the Polish president's International Policy Bureau, that Washington had agreed to establish a permanent US troop presence in Poland. Przydacz was speaking after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Kaunas said the Pentagon's review of its force posture in Europe is nearing its conclusion, with details on timing and the future model of US deployments expected to be announced soon.
He said he had discussed the matter with NATO's top commander in Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, and with US officials, and had received encouraging signals.
His comments echo those of Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to Lithuania's president, who said in late June that a final US decision on the future of its rotational troop presence in Lithuania was expected within a few weeks.
An American battalion of more than 1,000 troops completed its rotation in Lithuania this summer and was withdrawn as part of the broader US review of its military footprint in Europe.
Washington has rotated battalions through Lithuania regularly since 2019. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, that presence shifted to a continuous rotation of reinforced battalions, typically numbering around 1,000 or more troops equipped with heavy combat gear.
Lithuania has said it is prepared to host up to 1,500 US soldiers.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP, Polish Radio